Chwal

In Haitian Vodou, a “chwal” which means “horse” is the person who becomes possessed by a lwa. We often say the spirit is “riding them,” meaning the law has entered their body and speaks or moves through them.

When this happens, the person begins to show the behavior, attitude, and personality of the lwa who is riding them. If the spirit is from the water, like a lwa with a mermaid or fish nature, the person may glide or sway like waves. If it is a spirit from the earth, they may roll on the ground or move close to the soil, their gestures reflecting the lwa’s origin and power.

During possession, the lwa can make the person perform actions they would never be able to do under normal circumstances. Their voice may change, their strength may increase, and their body may move in ways that do not belong to their everyday self.

When the lwa leaves, the person often does not remember what they did or said. It is as if they stepped aside and the spirit lived in their place for a moment.

Possession in Vodou is not a loss of control. It is a moment of trust between the lwa and the one being ridden. It is a meeting between the visible and the invisible, a living proof that the spiritual world walks among us.

Printed as a giclée on fine art paper using archival inks, this piece preserves the depth of each color and detail, keeping the artwork’s spirit vivid and enduring over time.